Ghungroo - The Siren Call of Lovers (#1 - Completed)

Chapter 3 - The Girlfriend

Hi guys, so before I go on with chapter 3, I just wanted to say I hold no ill feelings towards the British. The nation that gave us the Beatles, Twiggy, Wham, Princess Di, Elton John, Bridget Jones (yeah I know she's fictional, but so real in my head), Joanna Lumley, 007 and Austin Powers (he's a living, breathing human. Period.)

The list of grandeur from this part of the world is amazing... However, my book needed an arch rival and Riaan's fiancé Stephanie had to come from somewhere. We all love to hate someone and there are a few jabs at her being British. But it all stems from Layla's jealousy and dislike of her due to her ties to Riaan. If you're British, please don't take it to heart. I'm a tree-hugging, puppy lover who has the deepest faith in humanity ever! I truly hate hurting people's feelings. I love you guys (have lots of buddies who are British, haha).

We all one big Irie family, Jah Mon;)

Chapter 3

The moment is broken by a voice calling out for Riaan's attention. It comes from behind me.

Riaan breaks our embrace and steps back.

I turn around and see that the voice belongs to a tall, lanky woman who is walking towards us in a huff. I know I am taller than the average woman, but this woman's  tall!

"Dear lord", she gawks. "This heat's awful, darling. How do you stand it here?" She twists one of her bleached blonde locks and breathes out in an exaggerated way. Her nails are perfectly manicured and painted a deep red. Several rings grace her long, elegant fingers.

She's posh. No Victoria Beckham, but posh non-the-less.

I become self-conscious of my own untidy nails and fist my hands into balls and hold them to my sides. Keeping long, painted nails- either fake or natural- is a luxury I cannot indulge in.

As a post-graduate student in Fine Arts, majoring in painting, grooming my nails and attaching acrylic extensions to them is pointless.

The use of linseed oils and turpentines are harsh on both my hands and nails. Any sort of attempt at grooming them would just result in chipped and broken nails by the end of just one day in my studio.

I know that if I look down at my nails at this very moment, I will find little bits of dried up paint crusted under them.

But I don't mind them bare. This is a small price to pay for the sake of my art, my passion. Still, next to this well-groomed woman, I feel kind of dinghy.

This must be Stephanie, Riaan's girlfriend.

I have heard Rahul on the phone a few times asking how a certain 'Stephanie' was. It is how I know her name now. Eavesdropping does have its pros.

Correction. Fiancée. 

Stephanie is well made up and attractive. She looks to be close to Riaan's age. She's lean. And well-bred from the way she speaks and walks.

She has an English accent, a prim and proper one, like the kind one would find in an old English classic.

Her face has too much make-up on for someone who has just been on an eight-hour flight.

Geez Layla, why the instant dislike?

The woman struts up to Riaan and wraps one arm around his waist.

I would never had guessed this was how Riaan's fiancé would look. Not in a million years. I have always pictured him with someone more casual, more 'girl-next-door'. She is, by no means ugly...just not his type.